October 26, Great-Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming Sixth Sunday of Luke

Transcription

1 SAINT MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26) 6330 W. 127th St., Palos Heights, IL Phone : (708) , Fax : (708) (office@stmaryoc.org) Church Office Hours : Monday - Friday 10:00am-3:00pm St. Mary Parish Clergy Rev. Fr. Mousa Haddad, Pastor Very Rev. Fr. Malek Rihani Subdeacon Matthew Sweis Subdeacon Ameer Tadros Parish Council Luai Sweiss - Chairman Constantin Kari - Vice Chairman Louis Sweiss - Treasurer Jason Haddad - Financial Secretary Lana Sweis - Secretary Nidal Al-Farah Feras Salman Faris Samawi Bassam Shaheen Feras Sweis October 26, 2014 Great-Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming Sixth Sunday of Luke Parish Ministries Sunday School - Philip Riske SOYO - Jasmine Sweis Fellowship - Rachel Kari Antiochian Women - Susan Sweis Handmaids - Mansoura Khouri and Lina Haddad Humanitarian - Shireen Salman OCLife - Nancy Cannon Fishers of Men - John Eannace Athletics - Melad Qodsi Choir - Michael Rascia Chanters - Khaled Salman and Faris Samawi Webmaster - Sana Sweis Office Jehan Haddad Katia Haddad administrator@stmaryoc.org Church Hall Rental Call the church office or our Office Administrator Weekly Schedule of Services Saturday: 5:00p.m. -- Great Vespers Sunday: 8:45 a.m. Matins -- 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. Matins -- 10:30 a.m. Bible Study (Confessions by Appointment) Welcome to St. Mary Orthodox Church! We extend our warmest and heartfelt greetings to you and your family. If this is your first time with us, we pray that you feel at home. After all, we are gathered together in our Father's house. For more information, please see one of the ushers at the end of the service for a Welcome Packet. May God bless you and give you many healthy years in His service.

2 Changes in the Liturgy Entrance Hymn O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia! Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone Three) Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own arm; He hath trampled down death by death and became the first-born from the dead; He hath delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the great mercy. Troparion for the Earthquake (Tone Eight) O Thou Who didst look upon the earth and make it tremble, deliver us from the fearful threat of earthquake, O Christ our God, and send upon us Thy rich mercies through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Thou only Lover of mankind. Troparion of St. Demetrios (Tone Three) Verily, the inhabited world found thee a great succor in tribulations and a vanquisher of nations, O fight-bearing one. Wherefore, as thou didst demolish the arrogance of Lahosh, and the battle-field didst hearten Nestor. Beseech, O Saint Demetrios, Christ God to grant us the Great Mercy. Troparion of the Dormition (Tone One) In thy birth giving O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death. Kontakion of the Theotokos (Tone Two) O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee. 2

3 Epistle for St. Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord! O God, hear my prayer! The Reading is from Saint Paul's Second Letter to St. Timothy (2:1-10). Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. Gospel for the Sixth Sunday of St. Luke The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke (8:26-39). At that time, Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And as He stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, What hast Thou to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech Thee, do not torment me. For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert. Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion ; for many demons had entered him. And they begged Jesus not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged Jesus to let them enter these. So He gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked Jesus to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so He got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with Jesus; but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to your home, and declare all that God has done for you. And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city all that Jesus had done for him. 3

4 Honoring your loved ones: Please consider signing up for one or more Sundays to provide Holy Bread and Coffee hour. It s this gift of Holy Bread that we use to prepare communion and to share with our parishioners at the end of the service. What better way to honor your loved ones on their birthday, anniversary, graduation or memorial. It takes minimal effort, and it encourages fellowship among our community. Engagement Oraib Ghaleb Sweis & Michael Nabil Nakhleh Congratulations! Holy Bread and Coffee Hour 10/26: Jamal and Raeda Khouri & Family 11/02: Sultan and Rua Khouri & Family 11/09: Feras and Jackie Salman & Family Epistle Reading 10/26: Josephine Tadros & Jasmine Sweis 11/02: Norma Tadros & Rana Nino Bible Verse of the Week Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:12 Sponsored by Our Teen SOYO St. Mary's Fishers of Men Monthly Breakfast November 1 st, :00am St. Mary Fellowship Hall Annunciation Book Store Open every Sunday after Liturgy and Monday -Friday 11:00am - 2:00pm Please Nader Haddad at naderemile3@yahoo.com with any requests. 4

5 Thu Oct 23 7:00pm Open Gym - Basketball Fri Oct 24 7:00pm Antiochian Women Meeting Sat Oct 25 11:00am Arabic School 1:00pm Youth Sports League 1:00pm Fellowship Paintballing Outing 5:00pm Great Vespers Sun Oct 26 Sunday School Red Ribbon Day 8:45am Matins 10:00am Sunday School 10:00am Divine Liturgy Tue Oct 28 Wed Oct 29 11:30am 11:30am 2:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 10:00am 10:30am SOYO/Clergy Volleyball Game Falafel Sandwich Sale - SOYO Open Gym - Basketball Adult Bible Study - Studying the Gospel of John Men's Basketball League Games Morning Prayers Parish Bible Study Thu Oct 30 7:00pm Open Gym - Basketball Sat Nov 1 10:00am Fishers of Men Monthly Breakfast 11:00am Arabic School 1:00pm Youth Sports League 5:00pm Great Vespers Sun Nov 2 8:45am Matins 10:00am Sunday School 10:00am Divine Liturgy 12:30pm Sunday School Staff Meeting 2:00pm Open Gym - Basketball 5

6 SAINT MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH OF PALOS HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS ANNOUNCES: The Enthronement of our Newly Elected Father and Chief-Shepherd His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America By the Hands of His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X Patriarch of the Great City of God, Antioch, and all the East December 5-7, 2014 St. Nicholas Cathedral - Brooklyn, NY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Friday, December 5th: 6:30pm : Great Vespers with Artoklasia for the Feast of St. Nicholas Saturday, December 6th: 9:00am: Orthros 10:00am: Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Nicholas 4:30pm: Great Vespers and Enthronement of Metropolitan JOSEPH 7:00pm: Reception at the Brooklyn Marriott 8:00pm: Gala Banquet at the Brooklyn Marriott Sunday, December 7th: 9:15am: Orthros 10:30am: Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with Patriarch JOHN X Banquet tickets are $200 per guest and can be obtained by mailing a check made out to "St. Nicholas Cathedral" to the following address: St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral Attn: Banquet Committee 355 State Street, Brooklyn, NY Please clearly print the names of those attending as well as a phone number and address if possible so they can acknowledge your reservation. You may also purchase banquet tickets with a Visa or MasterCard on the Cathedral website. Be sure to note in the memo section the same information above. Deadline for Banquet Reservations - November 21st 6

7 The Fellowship of St. John the Divine is going PAINTBALLING Saturday, October 25th 1:00pm 4:00pm Challenge Park Xtreme 2903 Schweitzer Rd. Joliet, IL *Please meet at church at 11:00am if you would like to car pool. $55 per person includes all equipment and lunch You must RSVP to Jawad Salman or Chuck Samawi by October 12th, and you must be paid in full by October 19th, or there is an additional charge of $10. Jawad: Chuck: W. 127th St. Palos Heights, IL StMaryFSJD 7

8 !!!TODAY!!! Immediately after Liturgy St. Mary's Gymnasium Come watch Fr. Mousa and Fr. Malek face off in a friendly volleyball game with our Teen SOYO! Coffee Hour will be in the gym hallway. All are welcome to watch the game. Falafel Sandwiches will be sold during coffee hour. All proceeds will go towards our Annual SOYO High School Retreat. 8

9 St. Mary s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner St. Mary Orthodox Church Antiochian Women Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Friday, November 14th, 2014 St. Constantine and Helen S Roberts Road Palos Hills, IL Hosted by Our Antiochian Women Friday November 14th, 2014 Doors Open at 6:00pm Adults $30.00 Children $15.00 St. Constantine and Helen S Roberts Road Palos Hills, IL Carved Pumpkin Contest!!! Come prepared with a carved pumpkin to enter the contest! For Tickets: please contact Nawal Sweis Or Magida Abudayyeh 9 Doors Open at 6:00pm. Adults $30.00 Children $15.00

10 10

11 This annual retreat is an opportunity for you to build upon your Orthodox Christian faith and learn how to apply the teachings of Jesus Christ to your own life. Retreat Master Archdeacon Saed Rihani $100 per High School Student Cedar Lake Ministries Retreat Center Indiana Please see Orieb Sweis to register and make your payment. God bless! 11

12 Taking our faith outside the church walls Annual Christmas Toy Drive It is that time of the year again to begin preparing for our Annual Christmas Drive. We have 40 wish lists for 40 children given to us by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. For most of these children, these will be the only Christmas gifts they receive. Most of these children are young children, from newborns to teenagers. Please, if you find it in your heart to do so, take one of these wish lists and buy Christmas gifts for a child. This way, you are bringing God into someone s life and strengthening your own Christian faith. Thanks for your support! Please see Rachel Kari to get a list. **Gifts are due by Sunday, November 16th** 12

13 Winter Food Drive 2014 October 12th - December 28th 1 out of 6 families are struggling with hunger Remember...42 lbs of food will feed a family of 4 for 3 days! Food Drive Grocery List: Beans, Chili, Cereal, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Jelly, Peanut Butter, Rice, Shelf Stable Milk, Soup, Tuna, Stew, Canned Vegetables Canned Fruit, Mac & Cheese. There will be 4 baskets outside of the Sunday School doors (in the large hall way) for drop off. Remembering the words of St. John Chrysostom: It is a better thing to feed the hungry than to raise the dead. 13

14 SAINT MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH OF PALOS HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS All adults are welcome to attend our weekly Adult Bible Study, where we will be studying the Gospel of John. The class will be given in Arabic and English by Fr. Danial Doss. English Bible Study Every Tuesday at 6:30pm beginning October 28th. Arabic Bible Study Every Wednesday at 10:00am beginning October 29th. 14

15 Open Gym Schedule Thursdays at 7:00pm Sundays at 2:00pm Games will be held every Tuesday night Ages 16 and up questions contact: Melad Qodsi or any member of Athletics The time has finally come! Our volleyball season is near and the excitement is building. St. Mary s Orthodox Church is proud to present our 3 rd annual Co-Ed Volleyball League. What better way to enjoy yourself then with family, friends, and fun! This season will be a great one and you will not want to miss out. So spread the word and come join us! Start date is January 11, 2015* End date is March of 2015* Must be 14 years or older Deadline: December 14, 2014 Teams will be Co-ed Games will be Sunday afternoons (Times TBD) Schedule is subject to change Location: 6330 W. 127 th St., Palos Heights, IL Kati Khouri Volleyball Coordinator Melad Qodsi Athletic Director athletics@stmaryoc.org 15

16 Weekly Synaxarion On October 26 in the Holy Orthodox Church we commemorate the holy, glorious, and right-victorious Great-Martyr Demetrios, the Wonderworker and Myrrh-Streaming. His father was the military commander of Salonica, and, when he died, the Emperor Maximian made Demetrios commander in his place. In doing this, the Emperor, an opponent of Christ, particularly recommended him to persecute and exterminate the Christians in Salonica. Demetrios not only disobeyed the Emperor, but he openly confessed and preached Christ the Lord in the city. The enraged Emperor cast him into prison. Knowing what awaited him, Demetrios gave his goods to his faithful servant, Lupus, to give to the poor, and went off to prison, glad that suffering for Christ was to be his lot. After several days, the Emperor sent soldiers to the prison to kill Demetrios. They came upon the saint at prayer, and ran him through with their spears. Christians secretly took his body and gave it burial, and there flowed from it myrrh by which many of the sick were healed. Demetrios entered the heavenly mansions in 306. On this day, we remember the great and terrible earthquake in Constantinople in 740. This was a terrifying and long-lasting disaster in the time of Leo the Isaurian, the first of the iconoclast emperors. The people realized that this was God s punishment for their sins, and entreated the most holy Mother of God and St. Demetrios with great penitence, until God had mercy and ended the earthquake. On this day, we commemorate the Venerable-martyr Joasaph of Dionysiou monastery on Athos. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen. 16